WOLBACHIA

Wolbachia:

• Wolbachia are safe, natural bacteria present in up to 60% of insect species, including some mosquitoes.
  
  
• However, it is not usually found in the Aedes aegypti mosquito (responsible for transmitting viruses such as Zika, dengue and chikungunya).
  
  
• Wolbachia is safe for humans, animals and the environment.
  
  

Application in preventing disease transmission

• Introducing Wolbachia into the Aedes aegypti mosquito helps in reducing transmission of the Zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses to people.
  
  
• e. People who are bitten by an Aedes aegypti mosquito containing Wolbachia will not be harmed in any way.
  
  

Global scenario:

• By introducing the bacteria ‘Wolbachia’, Townsville has been dengue-free since 2014. This is the first time modified mosquitoes have removed dengue virus across an entire city.
  
  
• At present, large-scale trials of this approach are under way in various countries. India is testing this approach under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme.